Flow adjusting means for fertilizer distributors



y 19, 1953 I c. M. GLADIS 2,639,061

FLOW ADJUSTING MEANS FOR FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTORS Filed Jan. 31, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l :EIET. l

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A TTOR/YIX H 1 2 MM T M H m M e 7 w 2 H 6 S M V a z E 2 C 0 Y B C. M. GLADIS FLOW ADJUSTING MEANS FOR FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTORS May 19, .1953

Flled Jan 51, 1950 Patented May 19, 1953 FLOW ADJUSTING MEANS FOR FERTI- LIZER' DISTRIBUTORS Cyril M. Gladis, Butler, Pa., assignor.-,. by mesne assignments, to Dear-born Motors Corporation, Highland. Park, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 1950, Serial No. 141,460 2 Claims. (01. 2225285) This invention relates to a device for selective- 1y controlling the flow of fertilizer discharged from a fertilizer distributor.

It'- is now fairly well established that one of the most economical, and productive methods of distributing fertilizer is in the furrow adjacent the seed being planted. The exactlocation of the fertilizer with respect to the seed varies somewhat with the type of seed being planted and the. fertilizer to be applied; however, regardless of the type of seed being planted, a measured amount of, fertilizer for the selected seed must be. deposited, It is obvious that an inadequate amount of fertilizer deposited with the seed will not insure optimum plant growth while an excess of fertilizer deposited with the seed is not only wasteful but may be harmful to the proper germination of the seed. Of, course, any for tilizer flow control device must permit easy and convenient adjustment in the field, and be of rugged construction to withstand the rough usage to: which all farm implements are subjected.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fertilizer flow control. device easily adjusted to accurately control the flow of. fertilizer from a fertilizer hopper to the discharge tube.

A particular object of this invention is. to provide a simple, rugged, economically manufacturabl-e, granulated or powdered material flow con trol device for agricultural purposes.

The specific nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art. from. the followin detailed description, taken in. conjunction with the attached sheet. of drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, is illustrated one embodiment of this invention.

n the drawings:

Figure 1 is. a side view of the assembled fertilizer distributor.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fertilizer distributor incorporating the flow adjusting device of this invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing the configuration of the cam slot provided on the funnel portion of the fertilizer distributor.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure l and 2 there is shown a fertilizing attachment or distributor l0 which may be mounted on a corn planter or other type of seed planting machine (not shown). The fertilizing attachment [0 comprises a base portion [2 and a substantially cylindrical hopper H. Base portion l2 consists of superimposed cylindrically shaped castings comprising an upper section 14 and a bottom cup-like section [5. Hopper H is of tubular construction and fits over the upper section l4 and is secured thereto by a plurality of radially disposed bolts or rivets l3. A flange Me is provided on the: bottom edge of section 14 whichoverlaps the. top of the bottom section l5. A plurality of logs bare provided in spaced relationship about the lower edge of upper section M and corresponding lugs 15a are. provided on the upper portion of the bottom section IS in. opposed relationship to lugs Mb. A vertically disposed hole Me in lugs Mb aligned with a corresponding hole 5b in the respective lug l5a through which a bolt I6 is. inserted to secure sections, t4 and it, together. The fertilizer distributor is mounted on an angle iron frame 45 which in turn may be secured to a planter or other implement (not shown). A plurality of pairs. of spaced integral depending lugs 12a, are disposed about the bottom of base 12 and a wing bolt 46 pivotally secured between each pair of lugs [2a. by a pin 46o cooperates with a slot 45a in frame iii to secure the fertilizer distributor to frame 45.

A substantially inverted conical shaped funnel portion ll. is integrally formed within the upper section M of base 12 and is concentrically disof neck portion Illa for a purpose to be presently explained. A metering collar l9 surrounds neck We and an inwardly-radially projecting, lug 20 is provided on the interior of collar lil'to cooperativeiy engage each helical groove l8, such lug being ehgageable therein when the collar 59' is assembled to neck Ha. from the bottom thereof by lug 20 passing up along, vertical groove A radially disposed outwardly projecting lug we is provided on collar F9 to which there is horizontally secured a handle 22 by a bolt 2| and such handle projects outwardly through a helical slot 23 provided in the wall of upper base section M, slot 23 being provided with the same helical lead as grooves l8. Handle 22 is spring tempered and so shaped as to permit it to resilienitly bear against the bottom of slot 23. plurality of notches 23a are provided on the bottom surface of slot 23 wherein handle 22 may be engaged inany selected notch to lock such handle in a desired location whereby the rate of flow of fertilizer from the hopper may be con trolled as will be later explained.

The bottom I of section 15 define's an in-.

tegral central hub l 5d having an axial bore the.

s dishdike feeding member zd, provided with an 22 may be selectively engaged in any one of such notches to yieldingly secure such handle in a selected position of adjustment of collar l9. Thus the spacing of collar I9 relative to dish 24 may be conveniently controlled from the outside of base I4 by handle 22.

From the foregoing description it will be clearly apparent that there is here provided a simple stantially surround collar l9; .however as the diameter of walls 24a is substantially larger in diameter than collar IS, an annular opening 240 is defined between such two members. An an nular orifice 28 is defined when collar I9 is raised above the bottom of dish 24 to permit fertilizer to flow out of hopper as will be described. A rod-like fertilizer agitator 29 is secured at one end underneath the head of bolt 25 while the other end of such agitator slopes upwardly and outwardly as shown in Figure 2 to substantially conform to the shape of funnel portion I1. Agitator 28 rotates with dish 24 to break up lumps of fertilizer thereby insuring an even downward fiow of fertilizer.

Bevel gear 21 is secured on the left hand end of a horizontally disposed shaft 30, such shaft being journaled at its left hand end within a bearing 31 supported within a housing 32 mounted on the frame 45 of the fertilizer attachment. The right hand end of shaft 30 is connected to a sprocket 33 by a coupling 32 and such sprocket is connected to a second shaft 34 which in turn may be connected to a second fertilizer attachment. Sprocket 33 is driven by a chain (not shown) from a ground wheel, or the like.

A cylindrical tube 35 is integrally formed on the left hand side of bottom section l of base l2, as best shown in Figure 2. The upper end of tube 35 defines a discharge orifice 35a and a fertilizer deflector plate 31 is mounted in upper base section l4 directly opposite orifice 35. Deflector 31 is provided with a scoop portion 38 which projects into feeding member 24 and fits relatively snugly between collar 19 and the sidewalls 24a and in close proximity to the bottom of feeding member 24. Deflector 31 is also provided with a bight portion 39 integrally formed with scoop 38 and depending from such bight portion is a defiector portion 40 which communicates with orifice 35a. Thus when feeding member 24 is rotated by bevel gear 21, any fertilizer contained in annular channel 240 will strike scoop 38 and then be forced over the edge 24a of dish 24 against deflector 40 whereupon gravity causes the fertilizer to flow downwardly through orifice 35a and into tube 35. A flexible hose 4| is connected to cylindrical tube 35 through which the fertilizer may be directed downwardly to the furrow opening boot or where it i desired to deposit such fertilizer in the ground.

By reference to Figure 2, it will be readily appreciated that the amount of material escaping underneath collar l9 through orifice 28 can be conveniently controlled by varying the height of such collar relative to the bottom of dish 24. Helical groove 1 8 accomplishes this adjustment in a highly satisfactory manner by the cooperation of lug 20 with groove 18 and the height of the lower edge of collar IS with respect to the bottom of rotating dish 24 may then be varied from a closed position upwardly to a very substantial opening. A plurality of notches 23a. are provided along the bottom of slot 23 and handle but positive device for regulating the flow of fertilizer in a fertilizer distributor which is readily and easily adjustable whereby the amount of fertilizer .to be deposited in or adjacent to the seed furrow can be accurately metered. Further, any selected setting of the flow regulating device of this invention is positively locked by the adjusting handle.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fertilizer distributor, a hollow base element, side walls mounted on said base element defining a hopper for granulated fertilizer, a cup-shaped member rotatably mounted on said base element, a funnel-shaped member mounted in said base element above said cup member and having a stem portion projecting into said cup member but being axially spaced above the bottom of said cup-shaped member, a sleeve-like valve member helically adjustably mounted on said stem portion of the funnel-shaped element and cooperating with the bottom of said cupshapcd member to define a variable width. annular orifice to control fertilizer flow from said stem portion into the outer peripheral portions of said cup-shaped member, said base element having a helically extending slot formed in the wall thereof, at least one of the helical walls of said slot having a plurality of spaced notches formed therein, and a resilient operating arm secured in radial relationship to said sleeve-like valve member and projecting through said aperture, said operating arm being resiliently engageable with any selected one of said notches to retain said valve member in any selected axial position.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said stem portion of the funnel-shaped element has at least one helical groove formed therein, said helical groove terminating in a vertical groove extending to the bottom edge of said stem portion, and said sleeve-like valve member having an inwardly projecting lug engageable in said helical groove and also cooperable with said vertical groove to permit assembly of said sleevelike valve member on said stem portion of said funnel-shaped element.

CYRIL M. GLADIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 55,872 Hutchinson June 26, 1866 897,456 Cole Sept. 1, 1908 1,104,288 Beskow et al July 21, 1914 1,764,108 Kennedy June 17, 1930 2,329,948 Shallock Sept. 21, 1943 

